FOHRID Human Rights and Democratic Forum – www.fohridnetwork.org National Human Rights Foundation (HURFON) – http://www.hurfon.org/
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) – www.askbd.org Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) – www.blast.org.bd
www.askbd.org
South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) extend warm greetings to all friends who will be commemorating the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. This year with the focus to embrace diversity and end discrimination the adoption marks a historic milestone in the evolution of our common understanding, and affirmation, of values we deem inviolable: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights” yet today, the fight against discrimination remains a daily struggle for millions around the globe.
The rich diversity of cultures and religions seen in the South Asian region should help to strengthen fundamental human rights in all communities. Instead we are faced with armed conflicts which lead to the breakdown of infrastructure and civic institutions, to greater human suffering and increased poverty, which are ultimately the violations of the rights of people.
The members of South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) express horror at the escalating attacks on civilians in Pakistan which has resulted in the death of about 300 people since mid-October 2009. Two weeks ago, the army launched its offensive in South Waziristan, the tribal territory separating Pakistan and Afghanistan that is widely regarded as a haven for the Taliban and al-Qaeda. Since then, the militants have carried out retaliatory attacks across the country.
On 9 October, 52 people died in a suicide car bombing in a busy Peshawar market. On October 10, militants held dozens of hostages for some 22 hours inside the army headquarters in Rawalpindi. Eleven military personnel, three civilians, and nine militants were killed in the siege. On October 20, back-to-back explosions took place at Islamabad’s International Islamic University. At least six people died in the attack. Twenty-nine others were wounded. On October 28, a massive car bomb once again tore through the heart of a bustling marketplace in the north-western city of Peshawar, killing at least 100 people and injuring at least 200 others, mostly women and children. A suicide bomber detonated explosives outside a bank in Rawalpindi on 2nd November 2009 killing 35 and wounding 65. In the most recent suicide bomb attack on the 8th of November, at least 12 people have been killed, including the local anti-Taliban mayor, and about 35 injured in the city of Peshawar.
The Government of Bangladesh’s decision to conduct a land survey in the CHT region has raised concern amongst the indigenous people and human rights and minority rights groups in Bangladesh. This is because land holdings belonging to the ethnic communities have been taken over by settlers from the plains or appropriated illegally, and if the ownership is decided on grounds of present possession, it would legalise illegal holdings and deprive the ethnic community of their communal right to land. The land survey would not therefore resolve the disputes in ownership and would violate the terms of the CHT Peace Accord. Several Human rights organizations and activists have urged the Government to with justice to restor the lands belonging to the original owners.
In a recent study Dr. Abul Barak has highlighted that about 38 percent of Adivasi households in the Chittagong Hill Tracts were forced to relocate at least once in the period from 1977 to 2007. About 22 percent of households were forcefully evicted from their homesteads at least once during this period. The research also shows that in 82 percent of cases, the land grabbers were Bangali. On average, every household in CHT lost at least 115 decimals of land during this period.
The members of South Asians for Human Rights strongly condemn the Taliban’s attack on a guesthouse hosting staff from the United Nations in Kabul on Wednesday 28th October 2009, which killed at least six and injured nine civilian UN staff.
Suicide bombers stormed a guesthouse used by UN employees and killed 12 people during a two-hour battle with security forces. According to media reports weapons, fire and explosions pounded the heart of the capital of Afghanistan. The fighting began as sporadic gunfire, but intensified over time, lasting more than an hour. The attack took place in a relatively secure section of the capital, in the vicinity of a number of government buildings, and it is reported that the firefight, which included machine-gun fire and rocket-propelled grenades, appeared to be concentrated near the guesthouse.
South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) expresses solidarity on the international day for the eradication of poverty on 17th October 2009. Over the last five years, in an era of unprecedented global wealth creation, the number of people living…
Three resolute women and human rights activists Asma Jahangir, Salima Hashmi and Teesta Setalvad are unanimous on the exchange of arts and culture to bring India and Pakistan closer, the Hinustan Times reports.
Participating in a seminar ‘Building Blocks for Peace’ as part of the ongoing South Asian Foundation (SAF) – SAANJH Peace Festival in India on the 16th of October 2009 they said that besides culture, business ties can melt the border between the two countries that have borne the brunt of Partition
This is the key note speech delivered by Ms. Aruna Roy at the Presentation of the Meeto Award for Young South Asians held at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi on the 14th of October 2009.
The Fourteenth of October 09
The Stein Auditorium
Habitat Centre
Dearest Meeto,
I often talk to my loved ones in my mind. It is the pleasure of being able to engage on issues of common concern, allowing us the luxury of shaping a thought, a feeling, toning it down, sharpening it and above all seeing the contradictions and the anomalies! I am going to indulge myself today Meeto, with your permission to go over some of the issues that would have absorbed you today, and which possess me in my moments of privacy and silence, and in my public life.